FNAI COMMUNITY: Wet Prairie

STAGE  DESCRIPTION

• Overstory:. Rare.  Coastal plain willow, wax myrtle and black gum may occupy the very center of this system where inundation is most consistent, annually.

• Mid Story: None.

• Ground Cover:  Outer rim of pyric grasses and herbaceous plants primarily smooth cordgrass, broomsedges, spike rush, yellow-eyed grass, maidencane, bootlebrush three-awn and toothache grass.  An inner band of similar species composition with St. John's Wort common in the intermix.  Peat moss may be represented in considerable cover in the spaces between herbaceous plants and grasses.

• Duff/Litter Layer: Sparse chaff from grasses and herbaceous vegetation.  Some peaty duff possible from extensive peat moss beds.

• Soils:  Poorly drained soils of black to gray fine sands (Basinger fine sands) forming broad low depressions and sloughs.
  
  
  

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